HAVING FAITH
Moving beyond the doubter
It’s evident that there is an intelligent principle at work in this universe. Something that has organized the suns, planets, galaxies and the infinite cosmos. Clearly no human intelligence made this universe and yet we tend to doubt that anything but human intelligence exists or is at work. Even if we consider ourselves spiritual we often don’t live in the knowingness or conviction that “spirit” is really present in our life. Regardless of what we want to call this intelligence (ie. spirit, soul, source, love, grace, presence, etc.) it appears to be beyond our current human capacity in its intelligence and its ability it organize life at the galactic or universal level.
The more lucid you become in this human dream the more clear it becomes how little the human perspective takes into account. From the perspective of the human it feels that we must take care of it all, do it all and make it all happen on our own. We feel everything is up to us and therefore live out our lives making things happen without too much recognition of forces or intelligences at work underneath the surface of our life. This is because the human sees itself as a separate self, a sort of object in a sea of other objects. We give this object that we perceive a name and further identity characteristics that seem to validate its separate and distinct beingness or existence. This distinct identity and separate self is what gives rise to the experience of disconnection and the experience that in order for things to occur one object must do something onto another object. There is no consideration of anything deep to the surface appearance.
From this widely viewed human lens of seeing objects, separate parts and the mechanical view of life, it’s no wonder people are stressed out, anxious, depressed and overwhelmed. Living disconnected from the source of life leaves us feeling vulnerable, exposed, uncertain and unsafe. We do our very best to create certainty and a sense of safety, yet it comes at great cost. The cost being that we give away our enjoyment, presence and childlike wonder in order to give ourselves some perceived sense of safety and certainty. We become insistent about what the picture or appearance of our life should look like in order that we feel ok to relax and be, and we work really, really hard to get that picture right. We are defensive and self-protective. We live in a constant state of doubt. Doubt that we will be ok, doubt that we will be taken care of, doubt that we will get to do or experience the things we think we want to, doubt that life is or will work out. We lack faith, and because we lack faith we can’t sleep at night, we feel tense, we have digestive upset, our thoughts race, we have trouble focusing, we never feel like we can totally relax and we live in a state of vigilance to what might happen next.
LEAPS OF FAITH
Past the edge of fear
There is a way through continually living in doubt (aka fear), but it requires us taking lots of leaps of faith. We must take these leaps of faith in order for us to become rested in faith. To be rested in faith is to know, to be convicted in, the wellness of all. It is to stably know all is well and not jump into doubt, fear and separation when life seems to throw you curve balls or challenges. It is to stop attempting to control and manage life, and rather enjoy and live it. This is always inside of your choice even when it feels like it’s not.
From the perspective of the human mind it takes tons of courage in order to take leaps of faith. When you leap you are essentially letting go. Letting go of your story, your agenda, and your ideas about what is. These are all modes of control. You are also subtly letting go your identity, of your sense of rightness, your sense that you know how things are, of how you think things are supposed to be, and so it feels shaky, destabilizing and uncertain. This is the place of the edge of our fears, which really are simply distorted perspectives of separation, but nonetheless they feel very, very real to us.
Leaps of faith are the way past the edge. They will take you into and through a portal into an expanded perspective. After you take the leap and are on the other side of the experience you will see that the thing you feared so greatly really wasn’t a big deal at all. They only thing that was ever a big deal was your doubt about it. It is only by taking the leap and going through the portal that you come to know safety, stability and well-being. You can’t know it by thinking about it, reading about it, or talking about it, you have to experience it in order to know it. You must leap.
When we don’t take the leaps that we need to we feel stuck. We feel trapped and can’t find the way or “how” out. When we think we need the how first we are simply postponing making the decision to leap. “How’s” come after we leap, not beforehand. The mind hates this, and yet it is how you learn faith. Faith doesn’t guarantee any outcomes. Things or people may come and go in and out of your life. Desired happenings may or may not happen. Faith puts you in a state of openness and receptivity, to receive life rather than have to make it happen. This is how you come to know that intelligent force that is beyond the human mind. It is how you start to reconnect to that source of love. It is how you experience unity with others and all, rather than viewing yourself as a distinct, separate person. Before you take the leaps required all of that will simply stay conceptual to you. Like thoughts that you like to think about, but you won’t know it or experience it, and you will probably feel frustrated that you don’t.
Faith is the primary human lesson. Conviction in faith is the end of stress, anxiety and overwhelm. It is the recognition and connection with your galactic brothers and sisters and beyond. Don’t take my word for it though. Try it out. Take the leaps that life is asking for you to take. Feel good and free yourself.
Dr. Amanda Love, Chiropractor, Network Spinal Analysis & Somato-Respiratory Integration, Boulder, Colorado